In response to the respective request from Sputnik Armenia, the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) indicated the domains of reforms in which Yerevan is ready to assist Syria.

On January 27, the Armenian MFA reported that deputy FM Vahan Kostanyan, during a meeting with Syrian foreign minister Asaad al-Shaybani in Damascus, stated that Yerevan is ready “to provide support in humanitarian area and implementation of reforms.”

Sputnik Armenia asked the Armenian MFA about who had initiated Kostanyan's visit, whether Turkey was involved in any way in its holding, and in which domains of reforms Armenia is ready to assist Syria.

The Armenian MFA noted that the deputy FM’s visit to Syria was “exclusively at the initiative of the Armenian side.”

Its purpose is to establish ties with the new Syrian leadership, restore traditional friendly cooperation between the two countries, as well as discuss the issues of the Syrian Armenian community.

“During the meeting between RA [i.e. Republic of Armenia] Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaybani, the possibilities of Armenia’s provision of assistance to Syria were discussed, in particular, in the context of the ongoing reforms in the country’s socioeconomic, humanitarian, educational and cultural sectors, and post-war reconstruction,” the Armenian MFA stated.

According to the Armenian MFA, the Syrian side highly appreciated the visit of the Armenian delegation to Damascus, and an agreement was reached to continue contacts.